Shaman AC too low?

[Obryn]

If someone sneaks up on him, he'll have to use it (or his rod) as an improvised weapon for OAs, but when he is ready to move into melee, he can stow the totem as a minor and go at it with the spear.

Why take the time to stow it?

Lanyards FTW!

-O

 

[jgsugden]

Why take the time to stow it?

Lanyards FTW!

-O

Possibly, but I think that if I were a DM, I would not be able to resist the temptation to yank that lanyard every once in a while... Perhaps even have an enemy try to cut it to make the shaman lose their totem...

 

[Stogoe]

I sure hope there's a "Spirit-Caller" Spear enchantment in the AV2 that works like Pact Blade, because otherwise I'm houseruling one.

 

[ppaladin123]

I just assumed that the shaman wore the totem in the same way that a cleric wears a holy symbol. Anyway I can't imagine you'd want to waste standard actions making melee basic attacks with your long spear when you could be mauling enemies with your spirit instead so it is a non-issue for the most part.

 

[DracoSuave]

Same page, under "Spirit"
"If a spirit power includes Spirit in it's range, you determine line of sight and line of effect from your spirit companion's space, which is the power's origin square"

I stand corrected on that, realized it after the fact.

When my shaman walks around, he'll have a longspear in one hand and his totem in the other. When the battle begins, he'll focus on the totem as an implement, but that spear will be in hand - just in case. If someone sneaks up on him, he'll have to use it (or his rod) as an improvised weapon for OAs, but when he is ready to move into melee, he can stow the totem as a minor and go at it with the spear. If you're going into melee, you're probably not trying to use totem powers at the same time, so you're probably ok in that situation.

In which situation is a character with nothing but ranged powers and attacks originating from a secondary location going to be 'ready' for melee? Shamans should be avoiding melee, not getting ready for it. Hide behind turducken. Use turducken to cover you.

 

[Doctor Proctor]

Hide behind turducken. Use turducken to cover you.

Isn't Turducken that thing where it's Turkey, stuffed with a Duck, stuffed with a Chicken? Is there some sort of connection between that and a Spirit Companion that I'm missing, or do you just like the word?

 

[ppaladin123]

Actually I just checked it out in the character builder...the totem must be held...it is not like a holy symbol. Darn.

 

[lukelightning]

I'd consider making totems like holy symbols... things you can wear. Or cooler yet, something that you can attach to your longspear; I picture a shaman with his ju-ju stick... a carved wooden spear, with charms of feathers, fangs, skulls, etc. hanging off, and a wicked sharp stabby bit at the top.

Isn't Turducken that thing where it's Turkey, stuffed with a Duck, stuffed with a Chicken? Is there some sort of connection between that and a Spirit Companion that I'm missing, or do you just like the word?

Maybe it's also a mythical beast, like an owlbear. "it's a duck, with the head of a chicken, and the feet of a turkey...ooooh!"

 

[Akaiku]

His game's shaman's pet is called that.

 

[lukelightning]

His game's shaman's pet is called that.

My shaman's pet is called That too. No, not Turducken. That.

"I summon That"
"What?"
"No, What is the ranger's pet..."
"Who's the ranger?"
"No, Hu is the sorcerer."